CAGLAYAN DEPARTS FOR ‘HISTORIC’ US VISIT

Today’s Zaman
May 19 2010
Turkey

Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan has said his visit to the US
will be "a historic one" in the sense that it is expected to boost
commercial and economic relations.

Speaking to reporters in Ä°stanbul early on Tuesday ahead of his
departure to the US, Caglayan recalled that a working group made
up of two ministers from each country was established during Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to the US.

Turkey-US relations were strained following tension over a vote
regarding the so-called Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman
Empire by a US congressional committee. "This visit has significant
importance in that both sides will be showing their commitment to
foster commercial ties. Despite a strategic partnership of more than
50 years, trade between the two countries is still below the desired
levels. We will conduct meetings to encourage more US investments in
Turkey," he stated. The minister also said the next meeting would be
held in July.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress